Let’s skip past the basic draw shot that most curlers are familiar with and dive into the more nuanced weights that can elevate your game.
Board Weight: Precision Navigation Around Guards
Board weight is your go-to when you need to work around a guard while still removing an opponent’s stone. The concept is simple: if the stationary stone in the house wasn’t there, your thrown stone would just make contact with the backboard. This weight gives you enough momentum to remove an opponent’s rock while maintaining control over your shot’s path.
Control Weight: The Balanced Approach
For my team, control weight means a rock traveling about ten and a half seconds from hogline to hogline. Under normal ice conditions, this allows the rock to curl about a foot. The beauty of control weight is in its name – it gives you control. If you hit three-quarters of a stationary rock with control weight, your shooter won’t roll far because it lacks the momentum to travel extensively after impact.
This weight is perfect when you want to make contact and keep your shooter in a strategic position. It’s all about precision and placement rather than raw power.
Normal Takeout Weight: The Standard Removal
Moving up in speed, normal takeout weight for my team is about nine and a half seconds between hoglines. At this speed, expect your rock to curl about six inches on normal ice. The faster travel time means less opportunity for the rock to curl.
This weight strikes a balance between control and power, giving you enough momentum to clear stones while still maintaining some directional influence.
Peel Weight: Maximum Power
At the high end of the weight spectrum is peel weight – approximately seven and a half seconds between hoglines. At this speed, your rock barely curls at all. You’re essentially placing the broom exactly where you want to hit the target stone.
The key difference with peel weight becomes apparent when making contact. If you hit three-quarters of a stationary stone with peel weight, your shooter will likely spin off with significant momentum and roll out of play. This weight is all about clearing stones with authority.
Practical Applications: Choosing the Right Weight
Let me share some real scenarios where weight selection makes all the difference:
- When facing a double takeout in the house, control weight often lacks the momentum needed to remove both stones
- The same shot with peel weight can easily clear both stones from play
- For taking out a half-open rock while staying buried behind a guard, peel weight will likely send your shooter out of play
- Board weight allows your shooter to curl around a centerline guard, make contact, and remain strategically positioned behind the guard
The golden rule I always share with my students is this: only throw the amount of weight required to make the shot. This approach gives you maximum control over where your shooter ends up after contact.
Weight control isn’t just about power – it’s about strategy. By mastering the different weights and understanding how they affect stone behavior, you’ll gain a significant advantage on the ice. Your ability to select the appropriate weight for each situation will improve your shot-making percentage and help your team secure more wins.
Next time you’re on the ice, pay close attention to how your rocks react at different weights. Practice throwing board weight, control weight, normal takeout weight, and peel weight consistently. The more familiar you become with how these weights behave, the more confident and effective you’ll be when making critical shots during competition.
